Ultimate Guide: Setting Up an Instagram Shop for Your Product-Based Business

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Instagram Shopping?
3. Why Does Instagram Shopping Matter?
4. Requirements for Setting Up Instagram Shop
5. Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up an Instagram Shop
   1. Connect Instagram Account to Facebook
   2. Set Up Accounts Center
   3. Connect an E-commerce Platform or Set Up a New Catalog
   4. Submitting the Shop for Review
6. Connecting Facebook Products to the Sales Channel
   1. How to Connect Shopify to Facebook
7. Tagging Products on Your Instagram Profile
   1. Adding Products to Your Instagram Shop
   2. Tagging Products in Posts and Stories
8. Conclusion

How to Set Up an Instagram Shop for Your Product-Based Business

Are you a product-based business owner looking to capitalize on the opportunities presented by Instagram Shopping? In this comprehensive guide, we will take you through the step-by-step process of setting up an Instagram Shop for your business. By the end of this article, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to seamlessly integrate your products into your Instagram profile and start driving more customers to your online store.

Introduction

Congratulations on owning a product-based business! Instagram Shopping has become an essential tool for businesses like yours, allowing you to showcase your products directly on your profile and enable your followers to shop with ease. In today's digital age, social commerce is booming, with more people than ever before using platforms like Instagram to discover and purchase products. By setting up an Instagram Shop, you can tap into this growing market and increase your sales.

What is Instagram Shopping?

Instagram Shopping is an integral feature of the Instagram app that enables users to browse and purchase products directly from posts. By tagging your products in your photos or videos, you can provide a seamless shopping experience for your followers. When they click on the product tag, they will be taken directly to your product page, where they can learn more and make a purchase. Instagram Shopping is a powerful tool for product-based businesses, as it allows you to showcase your products in a visually appealing and interactive way.

Why Does Instagram Shopping Matter?

The global social commerce market is projected to reach over $600 billion by 2027, highlighting the increasing significance of shopping on social media platforms. Instagram, in particular, has emerged as a popular platform for discovering new brands and products. With 60% of Gen Zers in the U.S. using Instagram for brand discovery and 48% of Americans aged 18 to 34 making purchases from social media, Instagram Shopping offers immense potential for driving sales and increasing brand visibility. By setting up an Instagram Shop, you can tap into this massive market and reach a wider audience of potential customers.

Requirements for Setting Up an Instagram Shop

Before you start setting up your Instagram Shop, there are a few prerequisites that you need to ensure:

1. An Instagram account: To set up an Instagram Shop, you need to have a business or creator account on Instagram.
2. A connected Facebook page: Your Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook page.
3. A website: You need to have a website where you can sell your physical products.
4. Physical products: You should have physical products that you want to sell through your Instagram Shop.

If you fulfill all these requirements, you're ready to proceed with setting up an Instagram Shop.

Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up an Instagram Shop

Now that you have everything you need, let's dive into the step-by-step process of setting up your Instagram Shop:

1. Connect Instagram Account to Facebook

The first step is to go to your Instagram homepage on your phone and tap the hamburger menu in the upper right corner. From there, tap on "Settings" and then select either "Business" or "Creator," depending on the type of account you have. Look for the button that says "Set Up Instagram Shopping" and tap on it, followed by the "Get Started" button.

2. Set Up Accounts Center

Next, you'll need to connect your Facebook account. You may be prompted to sign in if you're not already signed in to Facebook. Once signed in, connect your Facebook page to your Instagram account. After that, you'll be asked to set up an "Accounts Center." You can choose to skip the setup for now or finish setting it up if you prefer.

3. Connect an E-commerce Platform or Set Up a New Catalog

On the following screen, you will see a list of Instagram's e-commerce partners that you can work with. If you already have an e-commerce platform set up, such as Shopify, Big Commerce, Magento, or WooCommerce, you can choose the relevant option. If you haven't set up any of these platforms yet, you can select "New Catalog" to proceed.

4. Submitting the Shop for Review

When you choose the option to create a new catalog or select an existing one, Instagram will review your account and shop. This process may take a few days or up to a week. Once approved, you'll receive a notification, and your Instagram Shop will be ready to go.

Connecting Facebook Products to the Sales Channel

While waiting for Instagram to approve your shop, you can take the opportunity to connect your Facebook products to the backend of your sales channel. Depending on your e-commerce platform, such as Shopify, you will need to follow specific steps. Let's take a look at how to connect Shopify to Facebook:

[Steps to connect Shopify to Facebook explained by in-house product expert, Savanna.]

Congratulations! Your Instagram Shop has been submitted for review, and you have started the process of getting your products showcased on Instagram. Now, you'll need to wait a few days for Instagram to review your account and hopefully approve your shop.

Tagging Products on Your Instagram Profile

Once your Instagram Shop is approved and your products populate on your profile, you can start tagging your posts with your products. Tagging your posts is a crucial step in driving sales and making it easy for your followers to shop your products. Let's explore how to add products to your Instagram Shop and tag them:

Adding Products to Your Instagram Shop

To add products to your Instagram Shop, tap on the "View Shop" button on your Instagram profile page and select the blue "Add Product" button. Instagram will pull available products from your connected catalog or e-commerce platform. Choose the products you want to add and tap "Done" in the upper right-hand corner. Give it some time for the products to populate on your profile.

Tagging Products in Posts and Stories

When creating a new post or story, you'll notice the "Tag Products" option. Tap on it and select the photo or video you want to tag a product in. Instagram will display all the products from your catalog connected to your Shopify or e-commerce platform. Choose the relevant product and share your post or story. This tagging allows your followers to easily access the product page and make a purchase.

Conclusion

Setting up an Instagram Shop for your product-based business can significantly enhance your online presence and boost sales. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can seamlessly integrate your products into your Instagram profile and start utilizing the powerful features of Instagram Shopping. Remember, Instagram Shopping is not only a growing market but also a valuable tool for connecting with potential customers and driving revenue. So, take advantage of this opportunity and start reaping the benefits of Instagram Shopping for your business.